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I just took my first kiteboarding lesson in Maui (yippee!). That warm water and weather was great, and the mouthfuls of Hawaii water are probably somewhat sweeter than our beloved bay. Now that I'm home, though, I suppose I'll have to work on the home surf. So, what kinds of wetsuits are folks wearing to kiteboard here? I imagine I'd go to 3rd Ave, as that's the closest site to my home. 4/3? 5/4? Are you guys wearing booties and hoods? Gloves?
I must say I had a heck of a time getting my feet into the straps of that kiteboard with my booties, and eventually bailed to bare feet to actually get it. I am sure I won't have that luxury here at home. So, what are you folks wearing?

3rd aves one of the warmer spots of the bay, you can probably get away with a thin 3/2 or such, but the booties isnt for warmth, the shells at the launch can cut feet up, even so i dont wear booties, i just let my feet get cut every once and a while, its not THAT bad, but booties helps if youre squeemish.

I don't mean to get technical, but technically speaking, hawaiian waters are warmer, less nutrient rich, and hence saltier. The water's actually much much saltier over there. The bay is relatively brackish with all the freshwater rivers flowing into it, but not as brackish as you'd think, its still very close to the ocean in terms of salinity, depending on where you are ofcourse, but the waters still helluva lot sweeter than hawaiian waters.

Oh and if you want to hit the coast, make SURE you have some warm stuff, i was )(((F))))orking FREEEEZING today in my normal 4/3, i would even be freezing if i had a 5/4, im always cold, unless its 90+ out im god damn cold.

well there are SMALL estuaries to the north that flow into it, im not sure about the south,
the relative geography of the bay means that a lot of "FRESH" haha water runoff from the hills(highly polluted highly highly) also runs into the bay to give us a nice slightly dilute saline mixture.

MMMMM

makes me want to buy a huge nalgene so i can fill it wil 3rd avve's water and drink my thirst away.

listen to Zeev hes got it down in a damn nutshell. Though at sherman in mid to late summer i have ridden manyh times just barebacking it.

For the coast a 4/3 in the spring its a little skimp especially if you get cold, hoodie is recommended in the spring, summer you may get away with a 4/3. This is MY opinion ofcourse, i've seen people in the spring ride in 4/3's no problem. You might want to invest in one of those titanium liners that increase by 1mm.